Authors
Abstract
Attention is one of the effective factors when learning and performing motor skills. Focus of attention is a method to increase the efficiency and learning. Previous studies have shown that focus of attention plays an important role in learning and performing motor skills. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of the instruction of far and near external focus of attention on dynamic balance task performance. In this study, sixty male undergraduate students of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, who had taken the general physical education course in the second semester of 1388-89, were assigned randomly in three groups: far external attention group (attention to those signs far from the feet), near external attention group (attention to those signs near the feet) and control group (no attentional instruction). The stabilometer (Biodex) was used to collect the data. Each participant performed three 20-second trials in dynamic balance test. The obtained data were analyzed by descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics such as one-way ANOVA and Duncan post hoc test. The results showed that far external attention group performed significantly better than control group while near external attention group did not reveal any significant difference compared to the control group.
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